Double cone reel structure



Nov. 9, 1965 F. M. LITTELL 3,216,672

DOUBLE GONE REEL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 4, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M LU.

l@ ""Tlml Nov. 9, 1965 F. M. L11-TELL DOUBLE GONE REEL STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1964 Nov. 9, 1965 F. M. LITTELL 3,216,672

DOUBLE GONE REEL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g #me MW www United States Patent O 3,216,672 DOUBLE CNE REEL STRUCTURE Frederick M. Litteil, Winnetka, Ill., assigner to F. J. lLittell Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Feb. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 342,354 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-78.6)

The invention relates to reels for supporting coils of metal stock for rotation and has reference to an overhead double cone reel structure for supporting coils of metal stock from an elevated track and which will provide an unobstructed passageway between the frame supports for the coil supporting members and below the supported coil.

The reel structure of the invention is an improvement over the double cone reel shown in the patent to Littell 2,662,698, granted December l5, 1953, and which provides a pair of coil supporting members adapted to have rolling movement on guideways. The members support thev coil for rotation and also for bodily movement in lateral directions as regards the reel in order that the coil may be accurately centered and aligned with the machine or apparatus positioned for receiving the stock material from the coil. When the guideways or track elements on which the coil supporting members are adapted to have rolling movement are located on the floor, they obstruct the passageway below the supported coil, since they are disposed transversely of the passageway. In the reel structure as contemplated by the present invention, the

coil supporting members are suspended for rolling move- -ment on overhead track elements and thus the passageway below the supported coil and between the frame supports for the coil supporting members remain free and unobstructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved double cone reel which will employ spaced track elements for supporting and guiding the rollers of the coil supporting members and wherein the rollers are xed to upper extensions of the coil supporting members so that the members are suspended for rolling movement on the track elements.

A further object is to provide a double cone reel which will support the coil from an elevated track structure and wherein the members for so supporting the coil may be moved bodily in lateral directions for centering the supported coil.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and reel constructed in accordance with and embodying the improved features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the horizontal line 2 2 of FIGURE l and showing the operating shaft for the coil supporting members;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the right hand end of the double cone reel structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view showing one of the rollers for the coil supporting members and also illustrating associated structure whereby the roller has rolling contact on a track member; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view showing the ball bearing connection between the hydraulic power cylinder and the threaded operating shaft.

The coil handling apparatus selected for illustrating the lhi Patented Nov. 9, i965 "ice present invention essentially consists of coil supporting members 10 and 11 which are supported for substantially frictionless rolling movement on elevated track elements forming part of and provided by the unitary frame structure generally designated by the numeral 12. Each coil supporting member journals a coil engaging cone 13 and 14 by means of the shafts 15 and 16, respectively. The bearings for the shafts are indicated by numeral 1'7 and a friction brake device such as 18 may be fixed to the extending rear end of each shaft.

The unitary frame 12 essentially consists of frame supports 20 and 21, which are box-like in construction particularly in the vicinity of their base. Each of the upright supports 20 and 21 are bifurcated to provide frame members such as 22 and 23 for frame support 20, and 24 and 25 for frame support 21. The bifurcated construction of the said frame supports is clearly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 wherein it will be observed that the frame members 22 and the frame members 23 of support 20 are respectively joined at their upper ends and that frame members 24 and 25 of the support 21 are likewise joined respectively at their upper ends. The longitudinal girders 26 and 28 comprise the basic elements of the overhead frame structure. The said girders have a conguration in transverse section simulating conventional beam structure for strength purposes and each girder provides a track element such as 3() for the girder 26 and 31 for the girder 28. Securing bolts or similar fastening means 32 are provided for fixedly securing the girders at their respective ends to the frame members. The left hand girder 26, FIGURE 3, is secured to the frame members 22 at one end, and at its opposite end said girder is similarly secured to the frame members 24. The right hand girder 28 is xedly secured in a similar manner to the frame members 23 at one end and to the frame members 25 at its opposite end. Thus the girders extend longitudinally of the overhead frame structure 12 from end to end thereof, and in addition to physically connecting the frame supports 20 and 21 the girders provide the spaced track elements 30 and 31. The frame structure is completed by the top wall 33 having an elevated portion 34 at its right hand end, FIGURE 1. Said top wall 33 and portion 34 are suitably secured to the vertical walls provided by the spaced girders 26 and 28. For this purpose the top wall 33 including the portion 34 may be Welded to the girders as best shown in FIGURE 4.

The coil supporting members 10 and 11 are adapted to have substantially frictionless rolling movement on the track ele-ments 30 and 31 for which purpose the said elements are each provided with a hardened steel insert 36, FIGURE 4. The insert extends for the length of each track element and the rollers have Contact therewith. Each coil supporting member has an opstanding rail 37. suitably welded to the top wall 38 of the member on each side thereof and the rails carry the rollers for suspending each member for rolling movement on its track elements. The front rollers 40 and the rear rollers 41 support the member 10, FIGURE 2, and front and rear rollers 42 and 43, respectively, support the member 11. Each roller is journalled by means of a stud shaft 44 which is locked in position on its rail 37 by means of the threaded nut 45. A spacing ring 46 may be interposed between each roller and its respective rail 37 in order to properly space the roller so that it overlies and contacts an insert 36. Also, each rail 37 may be provided with an insert 47 for taking up wear such as would develop between a rail and an insert 36 as the coil supporting members move longitudinally on the track elements.

In the operation of placing a coil of metal stock on the double cone reel as herein disclosed, it is required that the coil supporting members and 11 be spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the coil so that the cones 13 and 14 will be located on respective sides of the coil. The coil is then elevated to align the center opening in the coil with the cones and then the members 10 and 11 are moved in a direction towards each other. This simultaneous movement of the members towards and from each other is accomplished by means of a threaded shaft indicated by nu-meral 50. Said shaft extends from one end of the coil handling apparatus to substantially adjacent the other end and the shaft has two threaded sections, one section 51 having right han-d threads and the other section 52 having left hand threads.

YStructure 53 which is fixed to the coil supporting member 10, FIGURES l and 2, has threaded relation with section 51 of the threaded shaft 50, whereas structure 54 fixed to the coil supporting member 11 has threaded relation with section 52.

Each structure 53 and 54 includes a pair of spaced lugs such as 55 secured to its member by the securing screws 56. The lugs journal the pins 57 which project laterally from a block 58 as regards structure 53, and from a block 59 as regards structure 54. Each block is thus pivotally carried by a pair of spaced lugs provided by its coil supporting member and as regards block 58, the same has threaded connection with section 51 of the .threaded operating shaft, with block 59 having threaded connection in a similar manner with section 52. It will, therefore, be manifestly clear that as the shaft 50 is rotated in one direction, the right and left hand threads on the sections, respectively, will cause movement of the coil supporting members and thus movement of the cones in a direction away from each other. However, opposite rotation of shaft 50 will effect movement-of the members and thus the cones in a dire-ction towards each other.

The shaft 56 is rotated by motor 60 suitably supported on the top wall 33 adjacent the wall portion 34. Belts such as 61 operatively connect the electric motor to the pulley 62 of gear reducing mechanism such as indicated by numeral 63 xed to the underside of the wall portion 34. Said gear reducing mechanism 63 provides a part 64 which receives the spline end 65 of the operating shaft 50. The spline is provided so as to permit longitudinal movement of the operating shaft 50 while maintaining a connected relation between the said shaft and the gear reducing mechanism 63. It will be understood that the part 64 provides a member having an internal spline for receiving the section 65 and the parts are so constructed and arranged that axial movement of shaft 50 can take place for a length which may vary from six inches to a foot, depending on the size of the coil handling apparatus.

At its other end the threaded shaft 50 is journalled for rotation as best shown in FIGURE 5. The shaft is reduced at this endy to provide portions 67 and 68, the latter portion mounting the ball bearing assembly 70. The housing 71 is provided for the ball bearing assembly and following assembly of the parts within the housing, its open end is closed by cover 72 suitably secured to the housing by the bolts 73. The securing nut 74 is threaded to the end of shaft 50 so as to hold the ball bearing assembly 7 0 in place on the shaft and the nut may be locked in turn by a cotter pin. The piston rod 76 extends from the right hand end of the housing 71, being threadedly 'secured to the housing at 77 and suitably locked in threaded relation by the nut 78. The piston rod accordingly constitutes a rear extension as regards housing 71 :and for all practical purposes could be an integral part Iof the housing. The piston rod 76 is part of the hydraulic cylinder 80 suitably fixed at 81 and at 82 to the underside of the top wall 33. The hydraulic cylinder 80 to place a coil of stock on the double cone reel, the cones 13 and 14 are moved apart by rotation of the shaft 50 for effecting movement in a direction away from each of the members 10 and 11. The coil is then placed between the cones, whereupon the threaded shaft 50 is rotated in opposite directions to effect movement of the coil supporting members and thus movement of the cones toward each other.

It may be assumed for purposes of discussion that the coil is olf-center, say, for example, in a direction towards the left. As a result, cone 13 will contact the coil before cone 14. However, no harm is done to the coil due to initial contact therewith of cone 13, since it will be understood that the entire unit including the supporting members 10 and 11 and the threaded connecting shaft 50 constitutes a floating unit during this operation. In addition axial movement of the shaft 50 is especially provided for by the journalling bushing S3 xed to the underside of the top wall 33. Movement of the threaded shaft 50 and cone 14 in a direction towards the left necessarily results from continued rotation of the threaded shaft following initial contact of cone 13 with the coil. Presently both cones will have the desired contacting engagement with the coil for rotatably supporting the coil in the conventional manner as desired. Although the coil is now supported for rotation, nevertheless the coil is off-center. For recentering the coil the entire unitary assembly including the coil, the cones which have contacting relation therewith, the members 10 and 11 and their threaded connecting shaft 50, are all moved laterally in a direction towards the right by actuation in this direction of the piston rod 76 effected by the hydraulic cylinder 80. When the coil has reached the desired center position, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder is terminated and the coil will remain in centered position unless the unitary assembly is again moved in either direction by further energization of the power means.

The members 10 and 11 function as movable carriages in supporting the coil on the overhead track structure, The weight of said coil supporting carriages, together with the weight of a coil, is transmitted by the rollers to the overhead track elements. Said rollers distribute the weight equally so that the carriages are able to move freely in directions towards and away from each other.

VBy thus suspending the coil from an overhead support the passageway below the coil remains unobstructed. This is desirable from the operators standpoint, since the coil may be more readily wheeled and elevated into place on the cones, and more easily serviced during the uncoiling operation.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In coil handling apparatus, in combination, a pair of spaced frame supports, each of said frame supports having a bifurcated upper end portion to form transversely .spaced frame members, track elements supported by the frame members in spaced elevated position, a pair of coil supporting members suspended from the track elements, a pair of rollers on each side of a coil supporting member and having rolling contact with a track element for mounting the coil supporting members for movement, a notatable screw shaft extending lengthwise parallel to and between the track elements and having right and left hand threaded sections in threaded engagement with the coil supporting members respectively, means for rotating the screw shaft to simultaneously move said coil supporting members toward or away from each other, and centering means including a spline connection interposed between the means for rotating the shaft and the said shaft, and power means at the end of the screw shaft opposite the spline connection for moving the same in a lengthwise direction.

2. In coil handling apparatus, as deined by claim 1, additionally including a rail fixed to each of the coil supporting members and projecting upwardly from its coil supporting member, and stud shafts iixed to the rails respectively for journalling the rollers.

3. In coil handling apparatus in combination, a frame assembly including a pair of spaced frame supports each having a bifurcated upper end to form transversely disposed spaced frame members, a pair of spaced track elements supported by the frame supports, one track element being iixed at each end to one frame member of a frame support, and the other track element being fixed at each end to the other frame member of a frame support, a pair of coil supporting members suspended from the track elements and adapted to move between the spaced frame supports in directions towards and away from each other, rollers carried by each coil supporting member at the upper end thereof and having contact with the track elements for mounting the coil supporting members whereby to permit said movement, and means for eecting such movement of the coil supporting members including a References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,518,072 8/50 Rushworth 242-107.1 2,662,698 12/53 Littell 242-786 References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,084 2/ 35 MOXley. 2,262,118 11/41 Sieger. 2,298,75 9 10/42 Fouse. 2,321,266 6/ 43 Valusek.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COIL HANDLING APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SPACED FRAME SUPPORTS, EACH OF SAID FRAME SUPPORTS HAVING A BIFURCATED UPPER END PORTION TO FORM TRANSVERSELY SPACED FRAME MEMBERS, TRACK ELEMENTS SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME MEMBERS IN SPACED ELEVATED POSITION, A PAIR OF COIL SUPPORTING MEMBERS SUSPENDED FROM THE TRACK ELEMENTS, A PAIR OF ROLLERS ON EACH SIDE OF A COIL SUPPORTING MEMBER AND HAVING ROLLING CONTACT WITH A TRACK ELEMENT FOR MOUNTING THE COIL SUPPORTING MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT, A NOTATABLE SCREW SHAFT EXTENDING LENGTHWISE PARALLEL TO AND BETWEEN THE TRACK ELEMENTS AND HAVING RIGHT AND LEFT HAND THREADED SECTIONS IN THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COIL SUPPORTING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE SCREW SHAFT TO SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVE SAID COIL SUPPORTING MEMBERS TOWARD OR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND CENTERING MEANS INCLUDING A SPLINE CONNECTION INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE MEANS FOR ROTATING THE SHAFT AND THE SAID SHAFT, AND POWER MEANS AT THE END OF THE SCREW SHAFT OPPOSITE THE SPLINE CONNECTION FOR MOVING THE SAME IN A LENGTHWISE DIRECTION. 